Coal-separator.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

F. H. EMERY. GOAL SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.13, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s w A U W B Y alga/m Altomey No. 784,788. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. P. H. EMERY.

COAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APB..13, 1904.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Aftorney PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905' F. H. EMBRY.

COAL SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.13, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WITNESSES.- J-K UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

COAL-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,783, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1904. Serial No. 202,989.

To all whom it IYLFI/Z/ concern.-

Be it known that 1, FREDERICK H. EMERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coal-separators, particularly of the type designed for the separation of slate from coal.

A general object of the invention is to provide a practical and easily-manipulated construction in aseparator embodying means for thoroughly separating the slate from all grades of coal with which it may be mixed; and in the attainment of this object the invention has specially in view novel means for regulating or hearing the pitch of any or all of the series of chutes of which the separator is composed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the mounting of adjustment of the discharge-regulating gates associated with the open discharging ends of the chutes.

The invention also provides an improvement in the feeding arrangement for the uppermost or receiving chute of the series to secure a proper check of the coal and slate as it passes into such chute, thus insuring a steady and well-controlled initial distribution or feeding of the coal and slate.

With these and many other objects in view, which willmore readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the construction for carrying out the objects above specified are necessarily susceptible to structural variation without departing from the scope of the invention; but a preferred embodiment of thelatteris shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coal-separa tor constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. L is an enlarged detail elevation showing the adjustable hanger connection between the contiguous ends of the adjoining chutes. Fig. 5 is a view of the modifications, showing arrangement wherein the chutes may be arranged in tandem instead of zigzag.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The separator as an entirety is composed of a suitable number of chutes arranged in any preferred successive order, but always maintaining a relation whereby each chute communicates with and discharges into the next succeeding one. The preferred construction is shown in the drawings, in which the separator is illustrated as embodying a plurality of inclined chutes l, 2, and 3. These chutes are disposed one above the other within the same vertical plane and are arranged in Zigzag or staggered relation to cause the material to pass alternately back and forth in different directions as it falls from one chute to the other during its travel through the machine.

One of the distinctive features of the invention resides in the means for maintaining the several inclined chutes in proper spaced relation, while at the same time providing for regulating the pitch or inclination thereof to suit the conditions of the space and work where the separator is used. To accomplish this, there is a pivotal hanger connection between the contiguous ends of adjoining chutes, which hanger connection includes a pair of pendent hanger-plates 4., bolted or otherwise rigidly fastened to opposite sides of the lower end portion of each chute, excepting the lowermost one of the series, and provided in their pendent portions below the chute to which they are rigidly fastened with a plurality of adjustment-slots 5, receiving therein the retaining pins or studs 6, secured in and projecting from the opposite sides of the upper end portion of the next succeeding chute. The said upper end portion of each chute which is thus connected with the lower end portion of the chute immediately above the same lies between the hanger-plates a, pendent from the latter chute, and has a pivot connection 7 with the said plate, so as to permit I00 the body of the chute to be swung in a vertical direction to vary or regulate the pitch thereof. The slot-and-pin connections 5 and 6 contiguous to the pivotal point 7 for the upper end of each chute permit the vertical adjustment referred to, while at the same time providing a strong connection between the hanger-plates 4 and the chute connected therewith to freely brace the latter and always maintain it in proper operative relation to the adjoining chutes cooperating therewith.

Associated with the pivotal and adjustable hanger connections between the upper end of each chute and the next successive higher chute are a series of pitch-zuljusting braces 8, arranged at opposite sides of the separator. There is preferably a pair of the pitch-adjusting braces 8 employed with each pair of the chutes 1, 2, and 3, and, as plainly shown in the drawings, the braces S of each pair are pivotally connected at their lower ends, as at 9, to the sides of one chute and are zuljustably connected at their upper ends to the sides of the next higher chute. This adjustable connection is preferably accomplished by providing the upper ends of the braces 8 with the longitudinal series of zuljustment-holes 10, designed to accommodate the fastening belts or pins 11, secured in the sides of the chute with which the braces are adjustably connected. By removing the fastening belts or pins 11 and replacing them through different holes 10 of the braces 8 it is obvious that the pitch of the chutes may be conveniently changed at any time. After adjusting the pitch of the chutes to suit the conditions required the bolts or pins 11 rigidly maintain the chutes in their operative relation. Each of the inclined chutes is in the form of a rectangular trough open throughout from end to end and the top and having arranged therein fora considerable portion of its length a main inclined bottom section 12, carrying at its lower end an upwardlydeflected delivery-apron 13, which is preferably provided with a retarding-slab 14 of slate or other stone to preventacceleration of the slate as it passes off of'the apron, while at the same time not interfering with the movement of the coal. The delivery-apron13 is of less inclination than the main portion of the bottom section 12, and immediately beyond and below the plane of the said apron each chute is provided, contiguous to the lower open coal-discharging end 15, with a bottom dischargeopening 16 in direct connection with the upper receiving end of the next succeeding lower chute, and at this point the contiguous ends of the adjoining chutes are pivotally and adjustably united through the medium of the hanger-plates 4, already described. .In each chute there is also associated with the bottom discharge-openil'ig 16 thereof a slidable regulating-gate 17, designed to catch the falling material as it comes from the delivery-apron 13 and guide it through the open end of the chute into a delivery-trough 18, which may be conveniently arranged at the lower discharging end of each chute and leading to a pocket, bin, or other receptacle designed for the reception of the slate or coal coming from the chute with which a particular delivery-trough therefor may be associated. Each regulating-gate 17 performs the function specified and also that of varying the size of the opening 16 to suit the conditions of the material being treated. Said gate has projecting from the sides thereof the engaging studs 19, working through longitudinally-disposed slots 20 in the sides of the chute and loosely engaged by the lower slotted ends 21 of the swinging adjusting-links 22, connected by a cross-bar 23 above the chute, and one of which is conveniently extended into an operating-handle 2 1, which is manipulated for sliding the gate 17 to its properly-adjusted position. The links 22, the connecting-rod 23, and the handle 24 constitute a swinging lever-frame for adjusting the regulating-gate 17 associated therewith, and to provide for the movement of said frame and hold it fast in an adjusted position there is associated with the same a pair of pivotbars 25. The bars 25 of the pair are pivotally mounted at one end, as at 26, upon the sides of the chute, and at their other ends are provided with longitudinally-disposed slots 27, receiving the combined pivot and fastening bolts 28, passed through the adjusting-links 22. By loosening the bolts 28 almost any desired adjustment of the regulating-gate 17 may be accomplished, after which the tightening of the bolts 28 serves to hold the same fast in the adjusted position.

The uppermost chute 1, which is thereceiving-chute, and at the upper receiving end thereof, has arranged thereover what may be termed a short feed-deck 29, designed to deliver the material onto the receiving-plate 30 within the upper end portion of the said chute 1. The said short feed-deck 29 is snitably supported and consists of a short troughseetion 31, having adj ustably mounted therein a slidable feed-regulating gate 17", mounted for adjustment in a similar manner to the regulating-gates 17 at the discharging ends of the chutes. The said feed-regulating gate 17 is slidably supported within the short troughsection 31 and has pivotally connected therewith a swinging lever-frame 24, carrying combined pivot and fastening bolts 28, working in the slotted ends 27 of the pivot-bars 25, pivotally mounted at one end, as at 26 upon opposite sides of the section 31. The feed-regulating gate 17 is arranged oblique to the upper end of the receiving-table 30 of the upper chute and receives the impact of the slate and coal as it is introduced to the separator by the feeding conveyor from the breaker. The said gate therefore checks or arrests the momentum of the coal and slate in the carrying out of the present invention and causes it to more gently and regularly drop onto the receiving-table 30.

If desired, the short feed-deck 29 may be utilized as a part of another chute by simply extending a chute or trough from the short section, as illustrated in the drawings, in the direction indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The operation of the separator will be readily understood by those familiar with the art, it being simply noted that the coal jumps across the bottom discharge-openings 16 and out of the discharge ends of the chutes into the delivery-troughs 18, and in practice some coal falls through the opening 16 with the slate; but by the'time the lowermost chute of the seriesis reached a complete and thorough separation will be effected.

In connection with the mounting of the short feed-deck 29 it is to'be observed that the upper end of the upper chute 1' is hung therefrom in the same manner as the upper end of all of the chutes through the medium of the hanger construction already described and to which the same reference-numerals apply.

in carrying out the present invention the best results are found to be obtained through the employment of a rocker-feeder 33, arranged in the interval between the receivingtable 30 and the upper end of the bottom section 12 of the uppermost receiving-chute, although it will of course be understood that this feeder may be advantageously employed as a part of the equipment of each of the chutes. This rocker-feeder is preferably constructed along the linesof the feeder disclosed in my former patent, No. 640,549, dated January 2, 1900, and essentially consists of an oscillatory troughed cylinder 33, arranged to oscillate in the transverse openingor interval between the receiving-table 30 and the bottom section 12 of the chute. The mutilation of the cylinder-body 33 is effected by providing the same upon one side with an angular trough portion 33 Said trough is of such shape that one Wall thereof lies flush with the floor or table 30 when the cylinder turns in one direction, and the other wallof the trough lies approximately flush with the opposite bottom section or floor 12 when the cylinder is turned in the opposite direction. By reason of this construction the troughed cylinder is free to turn in either direction without regard to the superimposed Weight of coal and provides-positive and reliable means for transferring regulated quantities of coal and slate from the table or floor section at the upper end of the chute,

onto the main floor or bottom section leading to the lower end of the chute. Any approved it is desirable to provide means for changing the inclination or pitch of the inclined bottom section 12 of each chute, so that a corresponding relation may be always maintained between the retarding stone or slab 14 and the adjacent adjustable regulating-gate 17. Primarily this is effected by having the bottom section 12 of each chute pivotally supported at its upper end, as at 12, upon a pivot-rod or equivalent support and to associate with the said pivotal or hinged section suitable adjusting mechanism. This adjusting mechanism is preferably of a character whereby the pivotal bottom sections 12 of the entire series of chutes may be adjusted uniformly and synchronously. To effect this, there is arranged beneath each bottom section 6 a pivot-shaft 35, carrying an adjusting-cam 36, working beneath the bottom section at a suitable point to provide for the raising and lowering thereof. Eaclr pivot-shaft 35 has extended therefrom a link-arm 37, and the link-arms 37 for all of the shafts 35 are connected together by a series of toggle-links 38. To one of the toggle-joints or to one of the pivot-shafts 35 is connected an operating-lever 39, carrying a fastening device 10, having an adjustable connection with a locking-segment L1, mounted upon one of the chutes. It will thus be seen that the manipulation of the lever 39 accomplishes a simultaneous adjustment of all of the bottom sections 12 and the device 40 holds them fast in the adjusted position. The adjustment of the regulating-gates, as stated, is made to conform to such adjustment as is provided for the pivotal bottom sections 12.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the construction described permits the chutes to be arranged in zigzag relation, as illustrated in the principal views, or arranged in tandem, as suggested in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In the tandem arrangement the chutes are arranged one above the other in parallel relation and overlap to a greater or less degree, according to the particular spacein which the same are to be arranged. In this tandem arrangement of the chutes no change is involved in the essential features of the invention already described nor in the provision of the troughs 18 for carrying the coal to the side of the picker or taking it in the same direction according to the conditions to be met with.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a separator of the class described, a series of chutes having bottom discharge-openings, and slidable regulating-gates ad justably mounted in the discharging end of each chute at one side of the bottom discharge-opening, a swinging lever-frame having an operative connection with the gate, pivotal bars pivotally mounted upon the sides of the chutes above the gates and provided with longitudinally-slotted end portions, and combined pivot and fastening bolts connecting each leverframe with the slotted end portions of the pair of said pivot-bars.

2. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged one above the other in zigzag relation and having a pivotal hanger connection between their contiguous ends, and pitch-adjusting means.

3. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged one above the other in zigzag relation and pivotally connected at their contiguous ends, and pitch-adjusting braces ad justabl y connecting and holding the several chutes.

4. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged in zigzag relation and pivotally connected at their contiguous ends, and pitch-adjusting braces having a lixed point of connection at their lower ends to one chute, and an adjustable connection at their other ends with the next higher chute.

5. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged in zigzag relation and provided at their lower end portions with pendent hanger-plates, the upper end of each chute being pivotally hung from the hanger-plates of the next higher chute and also having a plurality of pin-and-slot connections with such hangerplates, and pitch-adjusting braces paired with the several chutes, each pair of braces being connected at their lower ends to a lixed point of attachment on one chute and provided at their other ends with a series of adjustment-holes cooperating with fastening-bolts carried by the next higher chute.

6. In a separator of the class described, an inclined chute having a receiving-table at its upper end and a short feed-deck arranged at the upper end of said chute and having a feed- I regulating gate disposed oblique to the receiving-table.

7. In a separator of the class described, an inclined chute having at its upper end a receiving-table, and a short feed-deck having an adjustable mounting on the upperend of the chute and provided therein with an adjustable feed-regulating gate disposed oblique to the said receiving-table.

8. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged one above the other in zigzag relation and having a pivotal hanger connection between their contiguous ends, and a delivery-trough arranged at the lower coal-discharging end of each chute.

9. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes arranged one above the other in Zigzag relation and having a pivotal hanger connection between their contiguous ends, pitch-adjusting means, and a delivery trough arranged at the lower coal-discharging end of each chute.

10. In a separator of the class described, a plu rality of inclined chutes arranged one above the other in zigzag relation and pivotally connected at their contiguous ends, pitch-adjusting braces adjustably connecting and holding the several chutes, and a delivery-trough arranged at the lower coal-discharging end of each chute.

11. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes having receivingtables at their upper ends, a short feed-deck arranged at the upper end of the uppermost chute, and a pivotal hanger connection between the contiguous ends of said chutes.

12. In a separator of the class described, a plurality of inclined chutes having receivingtables at their upper ends, a short feed-deck arranged at the upper end of the uppermost chute, a pivotal hanger connection between their contiguous ends, and pitch-adjusting means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK I-I. EMERY.

WVitnesses:

Tnos. R. HUGHES, WILLIAM (J. THOMPSON. 

